Things in Development You Might Want to Know About
This section is basically a web log ("blog") for solution topics that I am working with or investigating for possible customer applications. As CTO for my own company, I have to stay on top of trends and identify technologies and products that will be of use to my customers.
A Free Help Desk
If you have a Windows Server 2003 or 2008, you can have Sharepoint Services 3.0 included. There is some setup work to do, but most competent server technicians can do it. SPS as we call it is included in Server 2003, implemented in Small Business Server and can be added in Server 2008. There is a free Help Desk template for Sharepoint which can be downloaded from Microsoft for free.
Recently, I downloaded and modifed an Access application for tracking technical support issues and wanted to put it online with Sharepoint. Then in the process, I found a Help Desk application template already built for SharePoint Services 3.0. Not wanting to experiment on a production server, I downloaded a virtual disk from Microsoft for Server 2008 R2 (180-day trial), installed it and fired up the virtual server under Hyper-V on an existing Server 2008 Std server. Very nice!
Then I installed the necessary server roles and features (Internet Information Server) and then installed Sharepoint Services 3.0. From that point, I can work remotely with the Sharepoint Central Administration web application from my laptop or any workstation to configure Sharepoint sites and applications.
Using the downloaded free template, I then run some STSADM commands in the new Powershell V2 that's included with Server 2008 and after some fiddling, I have a working Help Desk application that anyone in the office can use from their workstation.
I like it! The Help Desk application has most needed features right out of the box. Users can enter requests and track responses and progress from technicians. Managers have a separate view appropriate to their role as do technicians. You can use this application as-is, or if you have development skills, modify it to do specific things for your company that are not already included.
Getting a New Server?
If you are going to be running a Microsoft server operating system, may I recommend some things so that you get the most bang for your buck:
1. Get a 64-bit platform. This will allow you to run the virtual machine support for maximum performance.
2. Plan to implement the Hypervisor so you can have virtual machines.
3. Get extra memory. With 10 to 16 Gigabytes, you'll be able to run all your stuff and a collection of virtual machines.
4. Get extra disk space. Adding a single disk outside your normal RAID array will give you some "scratch" space for backups, temporary storage and experimentation. Space is so cheap, that there is little justification for scrimping here.
5. Get enough disks to allow RAID-5 for your system and data areas. Depending on the platform, you can have multiple RAID sets.
6. Consider storage devices. All major manufacturers sell network-connected storage systems which can add much more storage than might fit inside the server chassis you are buying.
7. Evaluate your operating system selection to see that it will handle the storage and memory size you might want to run. Server 2003 Standard only uses a maximum of 4 GB, but Enterprise will go up to 16 GB. Server 2008 (64-bit) has much larger capacities. See Microsoft's web site for details as they may change with different releases.
8. Have a strategic discussion with key members of your company about what services and applications might be in the future for your server. A server purchase is usually scoped for about five years out, so consult with your technology consultants and company managers about what you may want to shovel onto your server.
9. Keep the cost under control. Don't buy much more than you see the company needing for the 5-year outlook. It's easy to get carried away as vendors are all too happy to load you up with more profit-generating capacities than you really need.